Windows Server thrashes Novell's Linux

So says MS-funded reliability survey

Windows is more reliable than Novell's Linux and easier to manage, according to Microsoft-funded research carried out by Security Innovation.

The research simulated two IT departments, one running Suse Linux from Novell and one running Windows Server 2000. It found the Linux system required an eye-watering 187 patches while Windows needed just 37.

Ashim Pal, Microsoft's chief Linux basher, told the Reg: "Windows is more reliable over time and the time to provision (getting systems up and running) is 40 per cent less than Linux."*

Researchers followed the imaginary IT departments over the course of a year as they moved from Windows Server 2000 to Windows Server 2003 and from Suse Enterprise Linux 8 to Suse Enterprise Linux 9.

In that period the Novell system suffered 14 "critical breakages" while the Windows system suffered none.

In effect, the Suse set-up was impossible to adminster - the actions taken to keep system running meant the terms and conditions of the contract with Novell were broken so any warranty would have been null and void.

Pal said Microsoft had learnt from the success of Linux in providing modular versions of its server software and its attitude to its community of partners.

Novell was not able to comment at press time but we'll update the story when they do.

*Microsoft got in touch to correct this figure:"The actual statistic is that the Linux administrators took 68 percent longer to implement new business requirements than their counterparts, not the 40% statistic that Ash referenced."

More details on the research and its methodology should be available here soon: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/facts/default.mspx. ®